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Jada was acknowledged with a nod. “Hah, you’re right” simply replied Alessa with nonetheless a warm smile. She looked around and wondered just how many girls were from Crystal Academy. Most of them, probably, judging from the dresses alone.
“Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself, I’m so silly! I’m Alessa”, she added right before stepping aside. Fortunately, there were also boys here. This wasn’t just a Crystal party in disguise.

Speaking of which, she didn’t miss Damian’s gaze. His choice in clothing was unique to say the least. If he had been accepted, she shouldn’t worry so much about fitting in, after all. Needless to say, she blushed like the schoolgirl she was.

The miracles of modern fashion killed Tate sometimes.

Her mother had found the invitation stuffed into the pocket of her school coat, folded into an elaborate crane of refusal to go. Invasion of privacy ignored, for some arcane reason, Mariska had asked her: Is this why you're not going to the Johanssons' party Sunday? Is it? and Tate, without thinking, had said yes.

This had been a terrible, terrible move.

To her mother's party, she could have worn a tie and a vest. She could have been shocking because all that mattered to Mariska was that she went. Going to a different party, even if it was a party full of teenagers, meant that her mother would drag her out shopping, then from there to home for makeup, and hours of fussing with her hair and...

Damn it, she would have preferred to hang out at the Johanssons' party.

So this led to her standing outside the Fondue Haus, clinging to her ivory coat and dreading the moment when she stepped inside. She was glad that she wasn't wearing high heels; still heels, but if they'd been an inch higher she would be six foot even and that would be.

Terrifying.

Mariska made a shooing motion and left; Tate looked down at the pleated fabric of her dress, sighed. She didn't look forward to taking off the coat; it hid the way her emerald-colored dress made it look like she had... boobs. The empire waist made her look like she had an a**. She looked like she had a figure. It was going to kill her reputation forever.

That seemed to be the purpose of the evening, so she went ahead and stepped inside, surrendered her coat, and crossed her arms over her chest; the silver link bracelet on her wrist jingled a little against the embroidered 'belt' just under her bustline. Hopefully Ladon would be coming, too. She knew he had an invite... Speaking of, she handed that off as well, glad to see the end of the thing. And then...

"Ladon, oh thank god," said Tate, sighing with relief as she placed her hands on his shoulders. "Hide me." This was ridiculous. She said it anyway.

Just behind her, Elke stepped through the door. She had done her practice for the day, which made her presence in the Fondue Haus perfectly legitimate; especially since the Princess had practically promised to follow along later. Elke hoped she had not been lying, she knew that she had been not exactly inconspicuous about how badly she wanted to go to the party... but poor Serenade, she didn't have Ally or anyone. Poor Serenade was all alone, except for her Zodiacs.

She passed off her coat and gloves, smoothed out the soft white fabric, and checked to make sure her blue hair was still firmly french braided out of her eyes. All the flowers were still in it, too--white carnations, like the ones on the tables. Her expression was clearly one of unadulterated, childish wonder as she looked around. She was so glad the Princess had told her to go... Then, with a curtsey to Jada--clearly the hostess, if the glow of triumph on her face was any indication--she looked around. "Grayson," she gasped, happily; she hurried over to her brother, making good use of her three-inch heels to pull him down so she could kiss him on the cheek. Elke pulled a flower out of her hair and, quite cheerfully, put it in the buttonhole of his jacket. "There you are," she said happily. "Now you look perfect." And she hugged him, not bothering to ask what he was doing there. Her brother deserved all the happiness and fun he could get.

Franz had always been looking out for him.

It was a miracle that his roommate had been able to locate a flier to this event, but lo' and behold, Franz had given Howl the invitation to this rather foreign event. Franz had no need for it. He had a girlfriend, or something like that at least with Janice.

Despite having the invitation, he had still be quite undecided about participating until he had spoken to Marlo. Marlo Xanis would be joining the "festivities," and he had even offered Howl a ride to Fondue Haus. "You only live once" was the main argument used against him, and it was enough to convince Howl.

If there was one thing he was known for, it was being particular about how he looked at any sort of public affair. As always, he made certain to wear his favorite earrings and hair sticks, as well as change out his practically invisible nose stud for a more enchanting golden one. He was uncertain as to how formal an event this would be, and not wanting to be the gentleman who overdressed, he had decided on something classy, yet still informal enough to not come across as intimidating. He wore a crisp white button up shirt, sleeves folded just short of his elbows with a black vest over it. Howl was the sort who never wore jeans, and in turn was wearing an elegant pair of black slacks. All in all, he looked decent, even if he did look like a girl in mens casual clothing.

As the two young men entered Fondue Haus, flashing their invitations to whoever was inspecting them, Howl could not help but comment to his companion "It would seem there is a rather lovely turn out, Mr. Xanis." The teal-haired lad flashed a lovely smile to each and every face he saw, momentarily not paying true attention to the specific faces.

In their time together, neither Ladon nor Tate saw each other dressed up. There was never an occasion, and they both felt comfortable in their informal dress. This meant that Ladon never saw Tate’s figure because there was never any reason for it to be displayed. Standing still, he watched Tate step in, high-heels clacking on the polished hardwood before rising up to a green dress that spilled about her, held tight by a belt that hugged her hips, and then a top that just as snugly pushed her chest up. While he knew that Tate was a girl, this dress shoved that right into his dense head.

As she came, she grasped his shoulder, crying out that she wanted to be hidden. “Hide? You’re about twice my size.” It was preposterous she even think he could hide her lanky form. Even if he was taller, the dress would not allow it. It demanded that Tate’s figure be displayed. The rolling curves and slenderness of her neck, a few loose strands of hair coming from her hairdo to fall against her shoulders.

What sigh of relief he had in seeing her was caught in the back of his throat. “I’m so glad you’re here. I thought your mother dragged you to the other party. I would have died.” His eyes went back down to seeing her in high heels and he looked back up. “Did she have to dress you up in high heels?” He was going to get a kink in his neck by the time the night was through. Oh well, she was here and that was all that mattered. He wasn’t ready to be approaching girls on his own at parties like this, Singles Awareness day or not.

Dale was quite comfortable at the bar, watching the different men and women fill in. Her eyes widened when she saw Howl's thin and graceful presence slip through. Hm. It would look like she wasn't the only one who often had their gender questioned.
She sat her glass down on the bar and nodded. A cosmopolitan just wasn't the same without vodka, and people-watching without alcohol just wasn't fun.

Outside, Pierrette couldn't wait anymore. She had told herself that she would wait until the clock struck eight on the dot. Well, sitting outside for ten minutes while people filled in was making her antsy, especially when she thought she saw a couple of the Zodiacs. So, she walked in. She had chosen her pearl-threaded sandals especially for the event, and decided to match it up with a surprisingly plain, ankle-length pink dress. Her hair was worn down in soft ringlets, and a couple of pearls shone here and there where she had strung them on almost-invisible thread in her hair. Simple, but sweet was her motif tonight.

And there were no bows.
Holy crap.

"'Moapy Sob'...?" his companion repeated uncertainly. There were really some phrases out there which seemed so tasteless. Mentally, he brushed off the observation casually, not wanting to make an issue of it beyond the simple question.

Once he was generally situated, he glanced about to take a more careful look at the various lovely ladies present. It would seem I did a decent job in selecting a suitable outfit this evening, he mused silently. He also could not help but wonder how so many young ladies could be be single. Many looked absolutely stunning their lovely outfits.

Casually, he asked Marlo "Have you seen anything that suits your fancy, my friend?" while his own eyes still wandered the room. For a moment, they paused upon a brunette with a lovely emerald green dress. His eyes would have moved onward if it was not for the fact that the girl turned her face in just a manner that revealed the young lady's identity.

More out of surprise at how well this lady friend of his cleaned up, he couldn't help but utter her name aloud at recognizing her. "Miss Tatiana?" He was not close enough to be heard, but more than likely his friend caught the utterance. In hopes of not seeming awkward, he glanced over to Marlo and explained "I just spotted a lady friend of mine that I would love to talk to. Would you care to join me, or would you prefer to be left to your own devices?"

Ignacio found Singles' Events rather stupid.

"Hey look guys, I'm single!" "Yeah, me too!" "Me three!" "Let's sit here and wallow in our single misery."

Honestly, Ignacio didn't feel bad about being single. In fact, he had come to terms with it a long time ago. That just meant he was free to flirt with whomever he wanted, to dance with whomever he wanted, to go to restaurants with whomever he wanted... Really, it was the life! Why would Ignacio want anything else? Why had he wanted anything else?

But nevertheless, he really had nothing else to do this night. Grayson had been dragged away by Daniela in a hurry, Melody still really didn't know the full extent of Ignacio's situation so it wasn't like he could invite her over, plus she had that Azzo to deal with anyway... and those were his only friends, really. That left him to play video games with Tristen or to go to this stupid Singles' Event and try and find something interesting to do...

It was decided that he would throw on a jacket and make his way to the Singles' Event that he had picked up an invitation to at some point or another. Someone had dropped it in the hallway at Meadowview, and he had picked it up to make fun of it... he didn't realize he would be there just a day or so later handing it in at the front entrance of the Fondue Haus.

He shuffled in with hands in his pockets, glancing around at the party. Looked like, as he suspected, people were gathering in groups and wallowing about their singleness in the Valentine's season. But there was food! And people! That meant there was plenty to do! Maybe he should get into the speakers and change the elevator music that was playing...

With a devious grin full of crazy ideas, Ignacio scampered off towards the speakers... though he had no idea how he would change the music.